DAILY- HOMILY

August 15, 2015 SATURDAY

THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Solemnity, White

Vigil: 1 Chr 15: 3 - 4, 15 - 16;16:1 – 2 / 1 Cor 15 54b – 57 / Lk 11:27 – 28

Day:  Rv 11:19a; 12:1 - 6a, 10ab / 1 Cor 15:20- 27 / Lk 1:39-56

Pope Pius XII, Munificentissimus Deus, 01 November 1950

We do pronounce, declare, and define as a divinely revealed dogma: The Immaculate Mother of God, Mary ever Virgin, after her life on earth, was assumed body and soul, to the glory of heaven.

First Reading: Rv 11:19a; 12:1 - 6a, 10ab 

     Then the sanctuary of God in the heavens was opened, and the Ark of the Covenant of God could be seen inside the sanctuary.

     A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain, looking to her time of delivery.

     Then another sign appeared: a huge, red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and wearing seven crowns on its heads. It had just swept along a third of the stars of heaven with its tail, throwing them down to the earth.

  The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour the child as soon as it was born. She gave birth to a male child, the one who is to rule all the nations with an iron scepter; then her child was seized and taken up to God and to his throne while the woman fled to the desert where God had prepared a place for.

     Then I heard a loud voice from heaven: Now has salvation come, with the power and the kingdom of our God, and the rule of his anointed. For our brothers' accuser has been cast out, who accused them night and day, before God.

Second Reading: 1 Cor 15:20- 27

     But no, Christ has been raised from the dead and he comes before all those who have fallen asleep. A human being brought death; a human being also brings resurrection of the dead. All die for being Adam's, and in Christ all will receive life. However, each one in his own time: first Christ, then Christ's people, when he comes.

     Then the end will come, when Christ delivers the kingdom to God the Father, after having destroyed every rule, authority and power. For he must reign and put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed will be death. As Scripture says: God has subjected everything under his feet. 

     When we say that everything is put under his feet, we exclude, of course, the Father who subjects everything to him. 

Gospel:  Lk 1:39 - 56

     Mary then set out for a town in the Hills of Judah. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit, and giving a loud cry, said, "You are most blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. Blessed are you who believed that the Lord's word would come true!"

     And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit exults in God my savior! He has looked upon his servant in her lowliness, and people forever will call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, Holy is his Name! From age to age his mercy extends to those who live in his presence. He has acted with power and done wonders, and scattered the proud with their plans. He has put down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up those who are downtrodden. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He held out his hand to Israel, his servant, for he remembered his mercy, even as he promised our fathers, Abraham and his descendants forever."

     Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned home.

Reflection:

     Devotion in honor of Mary is one of the characteristics of Catholic faith and life. It is not only among Catholics that Mary is popularly venerated. The Orthodox churches, the churches of the Anglican communion, Lutheran churches and indeed many others celebrate Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Nor can it be overlooked that the Virgin Mary, as Maryam or Mariam, has an honored place in Islam.

     Our Gospel reading for the feast day is Luke's account of Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth. Mary is almost bursting with the desire to share the news that she is with child. An amazing thing happens when the cousins meet: the elderly Elizabeth is "filled with the Holy Spirit" and the child in her own womb "leaped" for joy. Elizabeth will give birth to John the Baptist who will help to prepare the way for Jesus who will soon be born of Mary.

     All of this is the work of the Spirit and is to be seen as part of the preparation for the entry of the Son of God into our world. Mary and Elizabeth may seem to be the main actors in the drama of today's Gospel reading. But it is Jesus who gives full meaning to Mary's visit to her cousin. In a curious manner the unnamed, unborn and "hidden" Jesus is the more important of all involved in this Gospel story.  

     And this is precisely what Mary celebrates as her heart breaks out into song and she proclaims: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit exults in God my Savior." 

     Mary's Magnificat is part of the evening prayer of all who pray the Church's Liturgy of the Hours (or the Breviary). Every evening priests and monks, men and women religious throughout the world, pray the hymn in which Mary recognizes the gracious work of God that had taken place in her. It is a hymn of greatness but of a greatness that is humble. It is a hymn that praises the mission Mary's Son will have. The proud will be replaced by the lowly "little ones" of the world; the mighty will be cast down from their thrones of worldly power while the lowly will be raised on high; what is so often thought to be riches that satisfy us will be shown to be empty of real worth.

     Elizabeth can see that Mary has been blessed as one who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled. In her own praise Mary celebrates God's fidelity to the promises he has made to his children of all ages, to all of us. Today we can pray to honor Mary by living the values of her Magnificat, finding true greatness in honest lowliness.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     CRISTIE ZIALCITA

     OFELIA C. RODAVIA

     SHARAH MAE GO KAW, M.D.

     STEPHANE BEATRICE DY CO

THANKSGIVING

     LDI DIRECTORS, MANAGEMENT & STAFF & FAMILIES

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     GOTAO, RUFINA OUANO (JUL 19, 1901 – AUG 15, 1990)

OTHER INTENTIONS:

For the healing & recovery of Brenda Domingo Solis from cancer.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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